What Car? Reader Awards 2009 - Estates

There are vastly different cars at different prices within the estate class. The Lacetti gets three stars overall – but only just – while the winning Mondeo has the same star rating as the Kia Cee'd. We put the Ford at the top because it has nearly twice as many reviews as the Kia.

The best: Ford MondeoPhilip McRae'Well done, Ford – this is a fine car. It looks fantastic and is a pleasure to drive! I have had two BMWs and have to say that, for value, the Mondeo is terrific. It is a real family car, so it's great for two children, dogs and golf clubs – it will swallow the lot!'

Andrew Mason'I bought a 58-plate 2.0 TDCi Titanium Estate with 11,000 miles on the clock for £14,000, so someone else bore the hefty depreciation for me – great! It's been excellent – it's so much better built compared with the Peugeot 307 I had before. It's enormous inside and has a really eager engine. I like the tight gearchange, too.'

The worst: Chevrolet LacettiPaul Ireland'Build quality is poor and the rear seats don't fold completely flat. It's a struggle to get an adult mountain bike in the boot with the seats down. Equipment and comfort are okay, but fuel economy is appalling and I've had persistent problems with the anti-lock brakes warning light. Handling is adequate, but the ride can get a bit rough on B-roads.'

Aldo Ellul'Changing into second gear is a bit tricky and takes some getting used to. However, the Lacetti SW is a fantastic car – nice, spacious and with all the right equipment.'